| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
4 Mar 2003 : Column 986W—continued
Heart Choice Scheme
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients have (a) been eligible and (b) applied for treatment elsewhere under the Heart Choice Scheme; [97313]
- (2) how many patients have received treatment (a) abroad and (b) in the independent sector as part of the Heart Choice Scheme; [97314]
(3) how many patients have been treated in a hospital that is not their home centre under the Heart Choice Scheme; [97312]
(4) how many patients waiting more than six months for heart surgery had a choice of alternative hospital in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001, (e) 2002 and (f) 2003; [98929]
(5) how many choices of alternative hospital patients waiting more than six months for heart surgery have had since 1997, and what has been the average wait between referral and treatment in the alternative hospital. [99093]
Ms Blears: Early unvalidated data suggest that between 1 July 2002 and 31 January 2003, 3,822 patients were eligible for choice and of these 1,423 patients chose to be treated in a different hospital. Further information will be placed in the public domain when data returns have been validated and analysed.
4 Mar 2003 : Column 987W
Hepatitis C
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the hepatitis C strategy for England, published in consultation form in August 2002. [99523]
Ms Blears: The Chief Medical Officer's strategy to combat infectious diseases, "Getting Ahead of the Curve", has called for intensified action in a number of areas including blood-borne and sexually transmitted viruses. Implementation plans for the hepatitis C strategy will be set out as part of this action plan, which will be published in the next few months.
Work has already begun on improving surveillance of hepatitis C and raising awareness amongst health care professionals.
In March 2002, the Department held four regional conferences for primary care staff, which were very well attended. It will be holding a further four conferences in March 2003. Following the conferences in March 2002, the Department published a briefing pack for health professionals, entitled "Hepatitis C: Essential Information for Professionals", which was distributed to all general practitioners and practice nurses in England.
Homoeopathic Treatments
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to encourage the use of homoeopathic treatments, where their effectiveness has been proven; [99920]
- (2) what studies he has considered that evaluate the worth of homoeopathic treatments for GP practices. [99922]
Ms Blears [Holding answer 3 March 2003]: Our June 2000 complementary medicine information pack for primary care groups commented that there was some evidence to suggest that homeopathy might help certain patients. It suggested in particular that the best evidence of its effectiveness was in relation to conditions with an allergic element, for example asthma, rhinitis and hay fever.
However, the centre for reviews and dissemination at the University of York has concluded in its more recent Effective Healthcare bulletin on homeopathy (2002, volume 7, number 3) that current evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy is not conclusive enough to warrant a significant change in National Health Service provision of homeopathy.
Hospital Mergers
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 666W, on hospital mergers, if he will (a) name and (b) publish the study covering trusts in London. [99451]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 27 February 2003]: The article referred to in my response of 11 February 2003 is "Process and impact of mergers of NHS trusts: multicentre case study and management cost analysis" (Fulop N, Protopsaltis G., Hutchings A., King A., Alien P., Normand C., Walters R.).
4 Mar 2003 : Column 988W
This study was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 3 August 2002—reference BMJ 2002;325:246–9. It is also available on the BMJ's website at www.bmi.com/all/shtml and in the Library.
Long-term Care
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people who may have been obliged to sell their homes to pay for care, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; [99375]
- (2) how families of deceased relatives will be informed that they may be entitled to appeal against the selling of the family home to pay for NHS care, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term-care; and if he will make a statement; [99384]
(3) what plans he has to compensate people obliged to sell their homes to pay for care for (a) emotional distress and (b) loss of value of the home; and if he will make a statement; [99385]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to ensure cases of the sale of homes to pay for care since 1996 will be investigated, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; and if he will make a statement; [99376]
(5) what the timescales are for the assessment of the unlawful selling of homes to pay for care for (a) strategic health authorities, (b) primary care trusts and (c) social services departments, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; and if he will make a statement. [99386]
Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has welcomed the Ombudsman's report on national health service funding for long-term care. As part of the initial response, the Department has asked strategic health authorities to estimate by 28 March the number of people who may have been wrongly assessed under criteria not consistent with the Coughlan judgment.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; and if he will make a statement; [99387]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the compatibility with R v North and East Devon Health Authority ex parte Pamela Coughlan of the guidance (a) HSC 2001/015 and (b) HSC 1999/180, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long-term care; and if he will make a statement; [99382]
(3) when he will publish new guidance following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long-term care. [99374]
Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, welcomes the Ombudsman's report on national health service funding for long term care. The Department has already asked strategic health authorities to review criteria in use since 1996 and estimate the number of people who may have been wrongly assessed under criteria not consistent with the Coughlan judgment by 28 March.
4 Mar 2003 : Column 989W
The Department is satisfied that the guidance issued in 1999 and 2001 was compatible with the Coughlan judgment.
The Department will consider the recommendation to review national guidance on continuing care carefully and respond in due course.
Mental Health
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether consideration of the responses to the Draft Mental Health Bill consultation has been completed; and when a re-drafted bill will be presented to the House; [100826]
- (2) how many responses to the Draft Mental Health Bill there were from community health councils. [100776]
Jacqui Smith: We received almost 2,000 responses to the consultation of which 88 were from Community Health Councils. Work on the Mental Health Bill continues and a Bill will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
MMR Immunisation
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the immunisation rates were for MMR in each of the last five years. [99184]
Ms Blears: Information about immunisation rates for MMR for children by their second birthday and by their fifth birthday for the last five years is shown in the table.
| By their 5th birthday(25) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| By their 2nd birthday | First dose | First and second dose | |
| 1997–98 | 90.8 | — | — |
| 1998–99 | 88.3 | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | 87.6 | 93.0 | 76.0 |
| 2000–01 | 87.4 | 91.9 | 74.8 |
| 2001–02 | 84.1 | 90.8 | 74.0 |
(25) Information about uptake at age 5 was collected for the first time in 1999–2000Source:
Department of Health, Statistics Division SD3G, COVER data
MMR Immunisation (Kent)
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the immunisation rates were for MMR in each of the last five years for Tunbridge Wells and West Kent. [99180]
Ms Blears: Statistics on immunisation rates are collected by health authority area. The table shows the immunisation rates for measles, mumps and rubella for children by their second birthday and by their fifth birthday within the West Kent health authority area for the five years to 2001–02, the last date for which figures are available.
4 Mar 2003 : Column 990W
| By their 5th birthday(26) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| By their 2nd birthday | First dose | First and second dose | |
| 1997–98 | 93 | — | — |
| 1998–99 | 91 | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | 90 | 95 | 80 |
| 2000–01 | 91 | 94 | 78 |
| 2001–02 | 93 | 93 | 75 |
(26) Information about uptake at age 5 was collected for the first time in 1999–2000Source:
Department of Health, Statistics Division SD3G, COVER data
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |